FAQ’s

Come as you are. While most people wear jeans (or shorts), others choose to dress a bit more formally. Honestly, we want you … to be you; so wear what’s comfortable. (Bottom line, if your kids want to come dressed up like ninjas, that’s more than fine with us. If you want to come dressed up like a ninja, please contact tim@southharbor.org).

We make it our priority to communicate the Christian message in a way that doesn’t assume you went to seminary. In fact, for many in our community, South Harbor is their first church. That said, we don’t shy away from actually learning, and growing and engaging challenging conversations. In other words, you don’t have to have any previous church experience, but we also don’t expect you to shut off your brain either.

We are part of a family of churches started originally out of Fair Haven Ministries. Fair Haven has for years been known as a Harbor of Hope in its community, and beginning in 2010 began to expand its presence through additional “harbors” throughout the greater Grand Rapids area. We believe that safe places are needed throughout our world where real people can find their way back to God. He has shown us this hope through His Son Jesus Christ.

A multi-site church is a church that has multiple congregations on multiple sites. Our “family of churches” currently has 5 congregations (Fair Haven Church, South Harbor Church, Harbor Life Church, Harbor Chapel) on 3 sites (Fair Haven Church, South Harbor Church, Harbor Life Church.) Click here to find directions to these sites.

We are also a member of the Reformed Church of America, and in the RCA, we’re considered a Collegiate Church, which is defined in the RCA’s Book of Church Order as “many congregations governed by one Consistory.” A Consistory is the board of elders and deacons and is the governing body of the church.

Nope. While we share the core theology, convictions and mission of the Reformed Church of America (RCA), many in our community did not grow up in the RCA. In fact, we have a wide range of different backgrounds and denominations.